Mithali, Poonam star
in 9-wicket triumph

Sylhet: Captain Mithali Raj and her opening partner Poonam Raut hit a half centuries each as India thrashed West Indies by nine wickets in an inconsequential league match of the Women’s World Twenty20 here on Tuesday.

India, already out contention for a semi-final berth, chased down the target of 118 with 14 balls remaining in their final Group B league match to notch up their second win in the tournament.

Mithali carried her bat through the innings as she remained not out on 55 off 52 balls which she made with the help of six boundaries while Raut struck seven fours in her 52-ball knock of 56.

When Raut was out in the last ball of the 17th over, India needed just one run to win the match. One-down Smriti Mandhana struck the winning runs — a four — as India reached 121 for one in 17.4 overs.

India ended the tournament with four points from four matches to occupy the third place in their group and they take on Pakistan here on Wednesday in a play-off match for a berth in the 2016 edition.

West Indies, who have already qualified for the semi-finals before match, finished second in Group B behind England on the basis of net run rate.